Sergio Perez has improved since “waking up from his world championship dream”, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has claimed.
The Mexican’s early season form had slumped since Monaco, failing to reach Q3 in qualifying on five occasions and falling 125 points behind teammate Max Verstappen in the championship.
But after being more competitive in Hungary and Belgium, finishing on the podium both times, Perez is now targeting the top three at every race until Abu Dhabi.
“I really looking to not leave the podium anymore from now until the end of the year,” he said.
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“It has been a bit of a rough patch, but we have managed to score good points for the team.
“I really need the summer break now, it has been intense, so I look forward to coming back very strong for Zandvoort.”
Despite his improvement, Perez is still a long way off matching Verstappen, who claimed victory by 22 seconds over Checo at Spa-Francorchamps after starting sixth.
But the 33-year-old hopes to offer more competition in the second half of the season.
“That will be my target,” he stated.
“We have this summer break to make sure we get on top of things. We have a bit of time and hopefully, we are able to find something that can bring us to the form we had earlier in the season.”
Perez’s recent form has led to questions over his Red Bull future, but advisor Helmut Marko offered some reassurances to the Mexican.
“We have a contract with Perez until the end of 2024,” he told Sky Deutschland. “He is second in the world championship. What need do we have to take action?
“He has now woken up from his world championship dream. Maybe that will help him to focus again on delivering the best possible performance.”